Yesterday, Jes wrote about ALL the preparations we do during Advent and Christmas and why some of our Christmas traditions are worth keeping.
I would like to share one of the traditions I grew up with that I treasure. Growing up, every year we would receive a Christmas themed book. Looking at those books from childhood takes me right back to the age, location, and memories of "Christmas past". Don't worry they are good memories unlike Scrooge. ;)

Now that we have our own children we have continued this tradition and include a little note on the inside cover with our child's name and age.

Below is a collection of favorite Christmas books that some of us HHH writers collaborated on to share with you! If you are looking for a book to gift your loved ones (young and old!) you have a great list to go by. Click on the titles to open our Amazon affiliated links and learn more about the books!

A Gift For The Baby by Diana Manning Hallmark book with coordinating ornament. As you press the buttons as they appear in the story (side panel), the ornament lights up and plays a short clip of the character in the story (i.e. the donkey who was glad to help carry Mary to Bethlehem)

Little Tree by e.e. cummings In a warm and touching poem, e.e. cummings describes the wonder and excitement of a young brother and sister who find a little tree on a city sidewalk and carry it home, where they adorn it with Christmas finery.

This Is the Stable by Cynthia Cotton This lovely picture book combines beautiful artwork and a seamless, thoughtful 'The house that Jack built' style to tell the story of the Nativity. I gifted it to all of my nieces as toddlers but my 6 year old loves to read this one and is adequately challenged. The illustrations are beautiful.

Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner She incorporates little hidden pictures on every page that the kids absolutely love looking for. There are multiple books in her Snowmen series and we love them all!

The Little Drummer Mouse by Mercer Mayer Children will relish the moment when the little drummer mouse realizes that no matter how small he is, he is a part of this exciting event. Mercer Mayer’s glowing and friendly artwork brings enormous charisma to this cozy version of the Nativity.

Waiting for Noel: An Advent Story by Ann Dixon As Noel's family lights the Advent candles each weekbefore Christmas, Noel's father tells her the specialstory of the year her family waited andprepared for her birth on Christmas Day.

The Nativity by Julie Vivas With illustrations that are enchanting and unexpected, Julie Vivas reveals the human side to Mary's story, beautifully imagining the Angel Gabriel delivering the news to her, the exhausting journey with Joseph to Bethlehem, and at last the deliverance of the baby Jesus.

The Visit of the Wise Men by Martha Jander Through gentle verse and rich illustrations, children hear an accurate portrayal of the Magi, dispelling minunderstandings that put three Wise Men at Jesus birthplace.

The First Christmas by Carol Heyer This is the story of Jesus' birth, retold by Carol Heyer in clear and simple language for little ones. Her accompanying artwork is luminous and adds depth to the story of why Christians celebrate Christmas.

Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck Rob wants to get his father something special for Christmas this year -- something that shows how much he really loves him. But it's Christmas Eve, and he doesn't have much money to spend. What could he possibly get?

The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson the children who lived under the bridge recognized a true friend when they met one, even if the friend seemed a trifle unwilling at the start. And it did not take Armand very long to realize that he had gotten himself ready-made family; one that he loved with all his heart, and one for whom he would have to find a better home than the bridge.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis Four adventurous siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie—step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice.

One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham an injured mountain boy, caught in a snowstorm at Christmastime, is taken in by a woman who lives in a log home the boy's grandfather helped build years before. After the snowbound pair become acquainted and the grandfather is notified of the boy's whereabouts, the woman launches into a telling of the Christmas story--beginning with the Creation and ending with the Resurrection.

God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas by Dietrich Bonhoeffer Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-45) was a Christian minister, seminary professor, and theologian who became one of the leading voices of opposition against Nazism during World War II. He was a founding member of Germany's Confessing Church and was executed for participating in a plot to assassinate Hitler. His theological views have become highly influential in the years since his death.

AND don't forget to enter the Christmas book, Messiah - the Greatest Sermon Ever Sung, giveaway we have this week! Click here to enter. The winner will be announced tomorrow.

Come on in! We are imperfect women spurred on by God's perfect grace to share chatter that matters in a noisy world. Grab a cup of coffee & your favorite chair and draw inspiration from our adventures in thriving (or not!) in our walks of faith. We are certainly not perfect but we point to the One who is - Jesus.